stockwell



(MOdeL) 2 Sheets-Shet 1. E. STOOKWELL.

TERMINATION-LOOK. N0. 294, 70 1.

Patented Mar. 4, 18 84.

I ry Elva/well By law flttorneys, l i

W a, M 227 It PETERS, Phowumo n mr, \vashinmo. 0.0

2 Sheets-Sheet (Model.)

B. S-TOOKWELL. PERMUTATION LOCK.

NQQ 294,701.

Patented Mar. 4, 1884.

INVENTOR Urnrnn rarns PATENT Prion.

EMORY STOCKlVELL, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE YALE &TOlVNE MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PERMUTATION-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 29%70], dated March 4,1884. Application filed December 1, 1882. (Modehl To CLZZ whom, it mayconcern:

Be it known that I', EMORY STOCKWELL, of Stamford, in the county ofFairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Dial-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvementsfor insuring the proper action ofthe fence of a combination-lock under all circumstances, so

that the lock can never fail to operatein consequence of the fencesticking; also for rendering the lock exceedingly difficult to pick, ifnot absolutely unpickable.

Heretofore many dial-locks have failed to operate, even when the otherparts were in good working order, from the fact that the fence failed todrop into the notch in the op crating-cam at the proper time, so as tocause the retraction or unlocking of the bolt. This failure has been duein many cases to the sticking of the fence upon its arbor either by rustor jamming of some sort. curred, the fence would not fall into the notchof the operating-cam. Hitherto there has been no way, except by theforce of gravity or a spring, to overcome the sticking of the fence, andthese have both been found to be unreliable for the purpose. I preventsticking of the fence by a construction which is positive and certain inits action, which does not depend on either a spring or gravity, andwhich cannot fail without an absolute breaking of the parts.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating 3 5 my improvements, Figure 1is a central horizontal section of a dial-lock substantially such asshown in my United States Patent No. 261,271, granted July 18,1882. Fig.2 is avertic-al section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig.

40 1. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on line3 3 of Fig. 2; and Figs. 4and 5 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 8, showing a formal modificationof my improvements.

I will only describe in detail, by the use of referenceletters, suchparts as constitute my improvements and as are immediately related tothem in position and function.

A indicates a balanced fence, of which 13 is the fixed arbor, and C arotary sleeve surrounding the arbor and forming the immediate pivotalbearing of the fence.

When this 00-- D indicates the lock-bolt having a suitable recess, E,for one arm of the fence, and F the operating-cam provided with asuitable notch,

G, for the other arm of the fence.

H in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 indicates a pointed toothed wheel, which isattached to or may be a part of the sleeve C.

I indicates a pin or lug on the operatingcain adapted to enter thenotches and engage with the pointed teeth of the wheel H and rotate thewheel and sleeve a short distance intermittently whenever the cam isturned one revolution in either direction. In Figs. 4 and 5, instead ofthis pointed toothed wheel and 6 lug, is shown an ordinary spur-wheel,K, connected with the sleeve and gearing with another spur-wheel, L,secured to the operatingcam or cam-spindle or dial-arbor. lVhen thislatter means of rotating the sleeve is employed, 7c the result will be aconstant rotation of the sleeve whenever the cam. is rotated, instead ofa slight intermittent rotation. It is preferable to'provide a rim, M, onthe sleeve to separate the end of the fence-journal from the 7 5screw-cap of the arbor B, so that the rotary bearing-surface of thefence will be on the rotary sleeve at every point; but a rotary sleevebetween the fence and its arbor without such a rim is within the scopeof my invention.

It will be obvious that the mere insertion of a sleeve between the fenceand its arbor, without the provision of any special means within thelock for turning the sleeve upon the arbor, will diminish the chances ofthe operation of 85. the fence becoming obstructed or prevented bysticking at least fifty per cent, because,

shouldthe fence stick to the sleeve, the sleeve may not stick to thearbor, and vice versa. The sleeve therefore reduces the liability tosticking very materially of itself, and is, even when applied ,alone, auseful improvement; but when it is provided with some means-for example,such as the two means above described in detail-suitable for the purposeall 9 5 permanent sticking is rendered impossible.

From the foregoing it is evident that when the sleeve is moved thefriction between the fence and the sleeve will tend to cause the fenceto fall toward one sideor the other.

any sticking occur between the fence and sleeve, the force exerted tocause the fence to Should 10o this fail through the sticking together ofmove will only be the greater. Xow, suppose that the tumblers of thelock are properly set and the arbor is moved so as to bring the notch ofthe cam underneath the fence, the continued revolution of the dial willpositively force the fence into the cam-notch, so that the loelc beunlocked, and under no circumstances can can

any parts.

Heretofore, as above stated, ithas been necessary, either by means of aspring or gravity, to cause a tendency of the fence-lever to always restagainst the periphery of the cam or tumblers, or both. Hence, in everyrevolution of the cam, when its notch comes underneath the fence, thelatter, unless it sticks so as not to work at all, bears hard upon thetumblers. This is a great aid to picking and very much weakens thesecurity of the lock. With my construction, when the dial is revolved inone direction, the corresponding revolution of the sleeve causes thebalanced fence to gently tip away from the cam and tumblers altogether,while when revolved in the other direction the contact is solight, owing to the nice balance of the fence and the absence of any spring orweight to thrust it against the cam, as to be inappreciable. Hence withthis construction picking is rendered very difficult, it not impossible,because the picker cannot tell by sound or feeling whether the fenceenters a tumbler-notch or not, and so cannot pick up the tumblers in theusual way. My invention, however, comprehends the use of a loose sleevebetween a lock-fence and its arbor, even it the fence be not abalaneedfence. In case itbe a balanced fence there will necessarily have to besome special m ans provided for throwing the fence; but if it be not abalanced fence, but a fence thrown by gravity or a spring in theordinary way, then the sleeve is a very useful improvement to preventsticking; but I prefer to use a balanced fence, for the reasons alreadystated.

Although I have illustrated my improve ments in connection with awell-known type of dial-locks, they are also applicable to other classesof locks, and some may be used without others, as will readily beperceived by those skilled in the manufacture of locks.

11 am aware that it is not new to employ a rotary bearing for a fence ofa lock, and I do not claim that, broadly.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent. of the United States, is

In a lock, the combination of a balanced fence, its arbor, a movingbearing between EMOR Y STOGKKVELL.

XVitnesscs:

(1 no. lit. XVnrrn, Sunuvnnn Miinmrr.

